Paul Hart made his views clear on the four months since Sulaiman al-Fahim announced his plans to buy Portsmouth: "It's getting a bit like Fawlty Towers this," said the manager, reflecting an uncertainty about the takeover that the club's executives are no longer taking pains to hide.

Following a fire-sale summer, the first-team squad numbers 19. Asked if it was difficult to get a full team out, Hart was blunt: "Yes. Basically we're down to 17 or 18 players – we've got a couple of injuries with [Steve] Finnan and [Hermann] Hreidarsson but even with those two it leaves us short. We've got to add to the squad."

Hart, who had just watched Portsmouth be unluckily defeated by a Clint Dempsey shot which rebounded off Bobby Zamora's backside in the 13th minute, was asked if he was surprised that David James, Sylvain Distin and Niko Kranjcar had not yet asked to leave the club.

"Whatever I say could end up with me looking complacent and I never want to appear complacent," Hart began, weighing his words carefully. "I'm extremely pleased that these players are at the club and that's it.

"Of course the players are interested in what's going on at the club. They ask questions and we try to give answers. I can only give the answers to the questions that I know the answers to."

Fahim, who was in the director's box alongside the chief executive, Peter Storrie, for the game, now enjoys a billing as Portsmouth chairman despite not actually owning the club.

When asked if he was encouraged by Fahim's presence, Hart said: "While he's here you really should try to speak to him and find out for yourself," before disclosing that the 32-year-old had not met him or his players following the game.

And when Fahim was later approached in the Fratton car-park he refused any public comment, though his spokesman offered this : "He is looking forward to attending many more games as chairman. The takeover is still on course, and in fact has never strayed off course. That is why he was there."

The latest rumour enjoying currency is that this week Alexandre Gaydamak, having finally run out of patience with Fahim, will seek a new buyer which could, again, originate from the Middle East. Storrie refused to comment on this, though he did admit he knew little of what is going on between the pair.

Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson appears a man more abreast of his club. "This is an important week for us," he said. "We've got the Europa League tie against the Russian team, Amkar Perm, then the match against Chelsea."

The Fulham manager's week is likely to begin on a bright note today when they confirm the signing of Damien Duff.

The breakdown

THE MANAGERS

Paul Hart

Selection

For once the XI chose itself because of all the player sales, plus injuries to Finnan and Hreidarsson

Tactics

Loan signing Piquionne was the front man of a 4-1-4-1 formation which had fellow new boy Mokoena as the defensive shield.

Game-changing

Brought on Kanu and Nugent during the second half in a switch to 4-3-3, which created chances for each. Unfortunately neither were sharp enough.

Roy Hodgson

Selection

The belt and braces 4-4-2 demands that the two strikers – a luxury of the modern game – earn their corn. But Johnson and Bobby kept on missing, apart from the latter's rear-end for deflected winner.

Tactics

Hodgson might have sacrificed the smaller Johnson for an extra midfield body as Portsmouth were allowed to run at Fulham too much.

Game-changing

Did nothing to affect pattern of match when replicating Gera for Seol and Johnson for Nevland

PLAYERS

Portsmouth

Niko Kranjcar

The Croatia playmaker was the brightest operator on either side, able to drift where team-mates sensed he would inflict damage. Unfortunately for him, he had little support and may consider a move away from Fratton to jump-start a stalling career.

Fulham

Andy Johnson

Even the pace seems diminished these days, never mind the supposed razor-sharp goal potency which dimmed enough at Goodison Park for David Moyes to move him on. Wandered in and out of the game and snatched at any chances.

KEY MINUTE 13

In a hardly invigorating affair Dempsey's shot via Zamora's posterior has to be the Ground Zero moment.